Medicines in short supply at Govt Rajindra Hospital in Patiala

Amid the government’s talks about setting up Mohalla clinics in the coming months, Government Rajindra Hospital, a tertiary health care institute, is running short of medicines.

The patients in Emergency, OPD and IPD are continuously being compelled to buy medicines from outside. In some cases, doctors direct the patients even to bring syringes.

Health and Medical Education Minister Dr Vijay Singla had visited the Emergency last week and directed the hospital administration to purchase medicines within three days. However, the hospital administration is yet to follow the direction.

A senior doctor in the paediatrics department said, “Even IV fluids are not available in the hospital. The situation has not improved at all.”

A resident doctor in the Emergency wing said, “It is very rare to see a continuous supply of medicines in the Emergency. We had high hopes from the government that promised to improve the health system.”

The health minister could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Dr Harjinder Singh, Director-Principal, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, admitted that the hospital on Friday received some medicines from the warehouse in Kharar. “We will get the medicines as soon as the issue of fixing the contract of the rates of the medicines is resolved,” he said.

Surprise checks
To ensure the availability of doctors in the Emergency, the Director-Principal of the hospital has asked senior clinical doctors to make rounds in the morning and evening. They have also been asked to conduct surprise checks. Tribune India